Dîner en Blanc got canceled. Participants found ways to celebrate anyway
There is no word yet on whether Dîner en Blanc will be rescheduled, or if its participants will be refunded.
When inclement weather prompted organizers to cancel Philly’s 14th annual Dîner en Blanc Thursday night, would-be revelers dealt with their disappointment and celebrated anyway.
Attendees paid $146 per couple to attend the picnic, which attracts thousands of people. Every year, they bring their own white chairs, tables, tablecloths, food, and drink to a secret location, revealed hours before the event. Last year’s event had 5,000 participants. This year’s Dîner en Blanc was sold out and the location had not yet been disclosed to participants.
The Inquirer asked Dîner en Blanc representatives if participants would be refunded, or if the event would be rescheduled, but has not yet received a response.
Table leader Candy Rathsmill, who was set to lead 50 Dîner en Blanc attendees to the location, had already prepared for rainy weather, adjusting her outfit to include a poncho and white sneakers. But she and her friends still “dressed in our whites,” drank champagne, and dined at Spice Finch. “Many of my guests partied at hotels, others picked up the food they had ordered and celebrated at home with friends,” said Rathsmill.
“We made lemonade out of lemons,” she said.
TV host and style expert Jen Su was already dressed for the occasion before the cancellation announcement was made shortly before 4 p.m. on Thursday. “My dress was from [the brand] Akira and it was styled by Soku Massimo. And my hair was done by [red-carpet hair stylist] Linnternational,” she lamented. “My hubby ended up cooking dinner for me and we wore our white outfits by candlelight and drank champagne.”
“[We had] Sichuan spicy chicken and rice as the rain poured outside. It ended up being a beautiful Dîner en Blanc,” said Su.
Melissa Joyner, owner of Tangibles Salon & Beautique in Voorhees, and her friends also made the best of the situation. They were already dressed up and had packed their decor, so they headed to Smokin’ Silverbacks Cigar Lounge in Fishtown and set their tables up inside. ”Our Dîner en Blanc was born. From napkin-swinging to sparklers, good food, cigars, laughs, and unforgettable vibes, we had it all and we had a ball,“ said Joyner.
“The original plans may have been canceled, but the celebration definitely wasn’t. Sometimes the best memories come from the plans you never planned,” said Joyner.
Meanwhile, Rathsmill is keeping the party going even longer and planning to meet up with members of her group today. “One of the best parts of Dîner en Blanc is making lifelong friends,” she said.
